Crossword Genius

Nearly let loose for ever (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

eternally

'for ever' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'nearly let loose' is the wordplay.
'loose' indicates an anagram (letters are loosened from their original positions).
'nearly'+'let'='nearlylet'
'nearlylet' is an anagram of 'ETERNALLY'.

(Other definitions for eternally that I've seen before include "Always and ever" , "For evermore" , "Always and forever" , "constantly" , "all the time" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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